Faith in Revelation: Learning from Joseph Smith’s Civil War Prophecy

Statue of Joseph Smith

Sometimes the revelation we receive can be confusing. But we can learn how to overcome our doubts from the experience of Joseph Smith. Just before Christmas in 1832, the South Carolina legislature established tariffs that challenged the federal government’s right to enforce its own laws. US president Andrew Jackson warned the… Continue reading

Elder L. Tom Perry: Builder of Souls

Picture of L. Tom Perry on a background with a sunset

Elder L. Tom Perry lived a life of service to his fellow men as a builder of churches and souls. On May 30, 2015, L. Tom Perry—a man with a big smile and an even bigger heart—passed away. Elder Perry (1922–2015) lived a long life of service. As a young man,… Continue reading

Sally Randall’s Letters from Nauvoo

Drawing of Joseph Smith in Carthage Jail

Joseph Smith’s death was a heartrending event in Church history. In her letters home, Sally Randall shares her faith-filled perspective of the tragedy. The martyrdom of Joseph Smith on June 27, 1844, was unjust and abhorrent. However, many early Saints did not let Joseph’s death shake their faith. Sally Randall, a woman… Continue reading

Joseph Smith’s Seer Stones: Coming to Grips with Troubling Information in Church History

sketch of Joseph Smith showing the golden plates to a group of men

Paradigm shifts can rock our world, but they can also bring greater understanding. Before 1697, Westerners believed the idiom “all swans are white.” But when a Dutch explorer discovered a black swan in Australia, his discovery “instantly demolished an apparent reality while also enabling a new, more informed state of… Continue reading

“Neither Dupes nor Slaves of Men”: Witnesses from Women in Polygamous Marriages

Hands holding a photo album

Who better to help you in your understanding of the practice of polygamy in the early Church than the women who were plural wives themselves? Many people feel confused about the practice of polygamy and its fairness to women in the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of… Continue reading

Our Heavenly Father’s Checklist

We may wonder whether Heavenly Father has a plan for the world. The Restoration shows us he’s had everything planned out from the start.  Many of us have learned about the Restoration of the Church, beginning with Joseph Smith’s First Vision of the Father and the Son. However, some of… Continue reading

To Beard or Not to Beard? The Question on Latter-day Saint Faces

Here are some snippets about growing and shaving beards in LDS Church history. Reflecting on the beards of Brigham Young and numerous other past leaders, some current members may wonder why the Church encourages its male members to be clean-shaven. Questions are especially prevalent among some at Brigham Young University.… Continue reading

What Did Joseph Smith Say about Your Divine Potential? 

Although Joseph Smith gave his King Follett discourse nearly 175 years ago, it can still teach us about our relationship with God. The Prophet Joseph Smith gave his King Follett discourse on April 7, 1844, in Nauvoo, Illinois. He was commemorating the passing of a faithful Church member named King Follett. The comprehensive doctrinal points Joseph discussed make this one of the… Continue reading

Women: An Unstoppable Force for Good

mother and daughter smiling

Through decades of leadership and sacrifice, women of the Church have made amazing strides in improving the lives of both men and women. As the world today champions women’s rights, some people feel that the Church trails behind in providing opportunities for women. However, Kate Holbrook’s Church History article “Society with a Purpose” explores… Continue reading

New Perspectives: Women in Church History

young woman talking and smiling with an older woman

Women throughout the Church’s history have shared new perspectives that we can benefit from today. When we explore the unique voices of women throughout history, we can increase our understanding and change our perceptions. What happens when this refreshing outlook is explored in the context of Church history? In the… Continue reading